My Event Ratings

Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: A nice race through some lovely areas of Rivington Pike.
In full: Enjoyed the run and had a good day. Only blight was 2 marshalls asking if I was the last runner and rolling their eyes when I said no. Now I admit I wasn't the quickest but it puts a bit of a downer on when your struggling with 4 miles to go. Made me quite mad to be honest and took the gloss off what had been a super run.
To be fair though 2 idiots towards the end shouldn't spoil what was altogether a great set of marshalls encouraging and clapping me all the way around, offering drinks and more encouragement at the stations, some on their own in the middle of the fields. Also, the music was still playing at the end which gave me a lift for a sprint (or slightly quicker slow jog) finish. Also, the hot dog stand was still open for some early carb loading. I did enjoy it, thanks to everyone who supported the race and the organisers. Probably see you next year.
Date of review: October 7, 2012

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Not a bad little 5k run with some nice obstacles.
In full: Good value as we paid in advance as a team of 3, especially as we got an OK T-shirt and medal at the end. Some nice obstacles and plenty of cheeky little uphill sections to tire you out a bit more.
Only 2 gripes.
First, which isn't too major, some sections just a little run to add distance rather than part of it.
Second - some of the marshals where poor and on 4 occasions I nearly went the wrong way. Most where fine, encouraging and telling you relevant info. Some looked bored (I was in the 1st wave so no excuses) and didn't tell you what to do until youve nearly gone wrong.

Overall though, very enjoyable and a very fun day out. Would do it again for sure.
Date of review: July 29, 2012

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: A lovely little race in a very scenic part of Wigan. Lots of friendly marshals and Pie and Peas at the end! Bargin.
Date of review: July 23, 2012

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		60%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Cold, wet and very Windy. However, plenty of aid stations and a good race in the poorest of conditions.
In full: The only issue was the bagging area. I couldn't get close to the baggage drop off beforehand and afterwards was glad of this. The bags were dumped on a field and people were wandering around looking for them in horrible conditions, this after a hard 26.2miles. Unacceptable.
However, despite this, marshals on route where friendly and also the supporters where out to cheer us on despite the rain, wind and slight sleet at times.
Date of review: May 26, 2012

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: A tough run, especially in Backpack and boots, but enjoyable.
In full: It was a great experience. Only downside is the organisation at the finish. The T-shirt pick up wasn't very clear and there were lots of people wandering asking where they needed to collect the T-shirts. A sign would have sufficed. However, this is just a small issue as the rest was well organised, where there were queues e.g. bag weighing, people moved you on / helped ease them and the course was well marshalled and the signs on the hills were great. A hard run in boots and Bergen but well worth it.I would definitely do it again.
Date of review: September 12, 2011

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Expensive for what you get but a good course and event.
In full: A large amount of money for a run. I expected more and not a 3 mile+ run up the hills without any obstacles. I have run trail half and full marathons and didn't enter to do similar, I would rather have done the 10k. The obstacles where good and challenging but I keep thinking of the cost.
Way too expensive for what is delivered. Would I do it again? Yes if the price dropped by at least £20.
Date of review: August 7, 2011

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: A hard but nice race on difficult terrain.
In full: My first Marathon and how hard it was. Got hotter and harder as the km ticked by. The water stations were well manned and as for those complaining about the lack of water etc. Read the instructions beforehand, it says 2l of liquid.
Great atmosphere on the course (had many a chat with people at water stations / people I was running (and walking with on the harsh uphill sections alongside) and was nice to get a round of applause and cheers of encouragement from the campsite all the way to the finish line.
Good day that I doubt I will never forget, especially at the moment when I move my legs!
Date of review: July 5, 2011

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		60%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: An ok run and good for first timers and children.
In full: An ok run but I have three gripes.
1 - The man with the microphone doing the pre run build up. He loved the sound of his own voice and at times I wished he would just shut up. I would like to remind him, the day wasn't about him but the many people running for whatever reason.
2 - when we left the hall to go to the start line, everyone went thought the door to the left of the screen. They then crossed the start line and turned around to face the right way. Some club runners on the line and people close to the front, were not very keen to move. Would it have made more sense to go through the other door and be facing the right way and not have to fight your way to the back?
3- the t-shirt. "IVE JUST RAN THE ONE BOLTON 5K". Should that not be run?
However, it was on ok run, plenty to entertain the children at the end, had a decent atmosphere and a good route.
Date of review: May 30, 2011

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		40%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: Costs a lot, is a nice enough run and has some harsh inclines to go both up and down. Big let down at the finish.
In full: Was a nice route and the start wasn't ideal i.e. a 40min route march to the startline. I do realsie though that this was weather related. I then proceeded to flog my guts out over the course, scrambling up hills, dodging ankle deep water pools and mud and was out on my feet at the finish line. I crossed the line and then realised that no-one was about i.e everyone had packed up. This was soul destroying to realsie that my achievement (and eveyone elses) was not reocognised. Add to the fact that there was no memento and I spent 2hours on the way home, as well as the next week feeling flat and thinking why did I bother, especially paying £25 to enter + petrol from Wigan + a B+B for the night before. Shame as it was a nice run, I just feel let down, as did the two friends I did it with and the other 3 people I overheard with the same views as me. Need to improve next year. The marshals were great though.
Date of review: May 30, 2011

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		80%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: A nice little trail run with steeper than expected hills and a very muddy field.
In full: A very clubby feel to the whole event, lots of runners in club tops around. Seemed well organised except for the man who did the speech at the start demanding everyones attention for safety info about a branch (twig) on the floor. No-one around me took any notice of him (sorry), maybe a megaphone would have helped.
Shame there is no momento of any sort and Im sure many people wouldn't mind paying a few extra pounds for them. Its a nice little run overall but would I do it again? Maybe not.
Date of review: February 21, 2011

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